Quality workplace ABET or AET programmes are specifically developed for low- and semi-skilled workers. Adult literacy training and adult numeracy training teach these employees workplace literacy skills. Employees who have these skills are functionally literate. Refer to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisations’ definition of functional literacy, namely Glossary | Unesco IIEP Learning Portal. UNESCO notes that functional literacy refers to the ability to read, write and do maths for real-life purposes.
Therefore, functionally literate individuals can also make informed choices about their own health. Because they can read a medicine label for meaning, they can determine the correct dosage to take. They can also learn about side-effects that they may experience after taking a medicine and make an informed decision based on this knowledge.
Functionally literate people also know their rights and responsibilities as citizens and consumers. For example, they understand the clauses in their employment contract and can, therefore, safeguard against being exploited. They also understand why they received a fine and what to do in this type of situation. Importantly, they can make an informed decision regarding who to vote for, based on information they study before an election.
They can also think critically when presented with new information. For instance, they can distinguish between facts and opinions in advertising, social media and new websites.
Importantly, functionally literate people can grow and develop in a personal and professional capacity. This is because they can make a connection between cause and effect; analyse information; and manage their personal finances. They can also be creative and establish personal goals for themselves.
The impact of quality ABET or AET, therefore, transcends the workplace. It also uplifts individuals in their personal capacity, as well as their families and communities. They also use these skills to contribute to society.
ABET imparts skills incrementally
ABET or AET imparts numeracy and literacy skills incrementally. Workplace literacy skills are taught over the four levels adult literacy training and adult numeracy training levels. By the time that employees have completed the programme, they are functionally literate.
Functionally illiterate employees struggle with phonics. This prevents them from understanding simple and clear instructions. Furthermore, they will not be able to assist customers to the best of their ability. Grappling with dictation, they cannot send coherent e-mails. Their written communication will always contain mistakes, including incorrect spelling, as well as use of punctuation and capital letters. Employees who are functionally illiterate also cannot do basic calculations. They will, therefore, rely on a calculator to perform very simple calculations. Moreover, they make mistakes on orders, such as including the incorrect date or contact telephone numbers. Functionally illiterate employees will also struggle with spatial grammar.
This means that they will not be able to provide or receive directions, for example. They will also lack the ability to explain where the company’s truck broke down and struggle to understand or explain technical concepts. Functionally illiterate employees also have poor comprehension skills. This prevents them from responding to memos in an accurate manner. They will also miss important details in communications or reports. Moreover, it takes them longer to read an important piece of text than is the norm in the working environment.
Functionally illiterate employees are also generally uncomfortable speaking and writing in English. Because they also have a limited vocabulary, functionally illiterate employees have difficulty expressing themselves in a sophisticated environment. They also take longer to process advanced text than would be expected of someone in their position. This is because they do not understand the meaning of many of the words used by the author.
ABET Level 4
Workers who have completed ABET or AET Level 4 have literacy and numeracy skills at a National Qualifications Framework Level 1. This is equivalent to someone who has completed Grade 9. The skills taught at this adult literacy and numeracy training level are considered adequate to perform most general and entry-level type work. Refer to Home – SAQA.
Employees who have completed ABET or AET Level 1 can read and write words and numbers in very simple documents. This enables them to, for example, locate easily identifiable information on a chart and sign a form. With numeracy skills at this level, workers can add a rand amount to a deposit slip. These skills are also referred to as “below basic literacy”.
Employees who have completed ABET or AET Level 2 can understand short texts. For instance, they can read a pamphlet; use a TV guide; and compare ticket prices.
At ABET Level 3, employees learn intermediary literacy skills, which will allow them to understand long texts. With literacy and numeracy skills at this level, employees can reference information and summarise a lengthy article. They can also place an order and calculate the costs involved using the numeracy skills that they have acquired thus far.
After completing ABET Level 4, employees are proficient in both literacy and numeracy. This enables them to think creatively and critically to understand dense or complex texts. For example, they can compare viewpoints in editorials; interpret statistical graphs; and measure and calculate the costs of essential items, such as food.
When companies invest in ABET
When companies invest in ABET or AET, it shows that they value their low- or semi-skilled employees. Adult literacy training and adult numeracy training provide an incredible opportunity for employees to complete their basic education. This is so that they too can grow and develop in their careers and as individuals. It is important to remember that many of these individuals did not complete their education due to reasons beyond their control. They were not lazy, stupid, uninterested or rebellious. Many of these employees were born into extreme poverty and into illiterate families. A lot of unskilled and semi-skilled workers migrate from the rural to urban areas to find work. The quality of education in outlying areas, townships and informal settlements is notoriously poor. Refer to Introduction in: Contextualising Rural Education in South African Schools (brill.com).
Enterprising companies know that their unskilled and semi-skilled employees play a major role in the success of their business. Therefore, they take the same approach to attracting, engaging and retaining these employees as they do for their “knowledge workers”.
There is a real need for quality ABET or AET in the workplace. The average level of educational attainment of the local labour force remains low. This is despite the education levels of the South African labour force increasing on average between the second quarter of 2018 and the same period in 2021. Among the employed, 12,2% have a degree; 10,8% have a diploma or certificate; and 34,4% have completed secondary schooling. Over 41,8% of employed South Africans have not completed secondary schooling. This is about two-fifths or 41,8% of the employed population. Refer to https://www.dhet.gov.za/Planning%20Monitoring%20and%20Evaluation%20Coordination/Report%20on%20Skills%20Supply%20and%20Demand%20in%20South%20Africa%20-%202022%20%281%29.pdf.
ABET is important
ABET or AET is important to ensure greater participation in the economy by unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Adult literacy training and adult numeracy training impart the skills that these citizens need to secure or retain employment in a modern economy. This includes the many unemployed South African youth. Unemployment is the highest among South Africans aged between 15 and 24 years and 25 and 34. The unemployment rate for this demographic is 62,1% and 40,7%, respectively. Furthermore, of the 10,2-million young South African adults, about 36,1% or 3,7-million are not in employment, education or training. Refer to Youth Day 2023: Sobering stats show nearly 1 in 2 young South Africans are unemployed DevelopmentAid.
There has been a marked decline in the reliance of unskilled and semi-skilled labour in the country over the years. This is as our economy has become more services based, which relies extensively on “knowledge workers”.
For example, South Africa’s manufacturing industry employs between 800 000 and 1-million fewer workers than a country at our level of development should. This is due to reduced demand for local goods and the general hurdles that local manufacturers face. For example, it is more expensive to transport iron ore to the Vaal Triangle for smelting than it is to export it. Our manufacturers also have to deal with some of the world’s highest port charges.
Certainly, there is significant emphasis on labour-intensive construction in the country. Yet, most government infrastructure projects are not that labour intensive when jobs created per rand spent are measured. Focusing on labour-based construction, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) has not really been that successful in terms of creating jobs. Most of the EPWP’s employment opportunities would have existed without the programme. Refer to Expanded Public Works Programme (epwp.gov.za).
ABET provides access to education
ABET or AET provides South Africans with access to a quality education, which is a basic human right. Therefore, the right to adult literacy training and adult numeracy training is enshrined in the South African Constitution. Refer to saconstitution-web-eng.pdf (justice.gov.za).
Without a quality education, adults will struggle throughout life, including finding and retaining employment in a modern economy.
For example, note the decline in employment in the agricultural sector. This is due to an increase in size of farms; mechanisation; and capital intensity. These are the symptoms of the liberalisation of the market and withdrawal of public support to farmers, especially smaller operations. This has directly led to the decline of smaller and less efficient farms, compounding already-high unemployment. However, while employment will continue to decline in the agricultural industry, some sub-sectors still provide opportunity for job creation. These include nuts, avocados, table grapes and vegetable farming.
It is a concern that South Africa has failed to take advantage of industries that have the potential to create many jobs. A case in point is the clothing and textiles industry. Employment in the industry halved between 2002 and 2012. We now only hold a tiny fraction of the global clothing and textile industry’s 18-million jobs. When global trade in clothing increased 25-fold between 1963 and 1976, South Africa was producing almost exclusively for the domestic market. We only accounted for 0,1% of global textile and clothing exports.
Our labour has also never been cheap. Local companies always paid a high price for skilled employees. Moreover, high tariff barriers and adverse locational decisions raised the cost of operating factories under the previous dispensation. This is in addition to the role that the strong rand played in stifling exports. Now, rising costs of unskilled labour make it impossible for us to compete globally.
Investing in quality ABET
Investing in quality ABET or AET builds businesses from the bottom up. Adult literacy training and adult numeracy training are geared at those employees who form the backbone of many industries. Among others, they include manufacturing, construction, mining, transport, retail, business-process outsourcing and healthcare. Working in these industries, these employees perform essential tasks that keep businesses operating smoothly. For example, they operate machinery; serve customers; and provide basic medical care. Without these employees, many businesses would not be able to function.
It is often semi-skilled employees who also interact directly with customers. As the “face of the company”, they are responsible for creating a positive impression of the business. If they are not engaged and motivated, it can lead to poor customer service and a negative perception of the company.
While these jobs do not require advanced degrees, it is incorrect to suggest that anyone can do them. For example, it takes enormous mental and physical stamina to hand-pick crops. There is also a lot of skill involved in waiting tables, for instance. The task involves remembering orders, manoeuvring gracefully between crowded tables; and being diplomatic with difficult customers.
People in these jobs often become better at them with time and experience, adding even more value to your business.
They also have valuable insights into the day-to-day operations of your business. Therefore, they may have suggestions for improving processes or can identify workstations that are being inefficiently managed. By actively seeking out their feedback and input, businesses can make positive changes that benefit the entire team. However, workers who feel undervalued will not be willing to share knowledge that will help to improve business performance. In some instances, they may want to, but simply lack the confidence to do so because they have low self-esteem.
Quality ABET
Quality ABET or AET provides an opportunity for these workers to lift themselves out of low-wage work. For many of these employees, adult literacy training and adult numeracy training are merely the start of a lifelong learning journey. As they progress, they will acquire new and more valuable skills. Unfortunately, they are often neglected by companies. This is because most of the skills development focus of companies is geared towards their knowledge workers.
Many experts have called for more appropriate monikers for workers who perform general and entry-level type work. This is to start addressing growing wage inequality, a major problem in South Africa. Of the South Africans who work, about 3-million subsist in the informal economy where they earn very low wages. A further 900 000 citizens are employed in agriculture and about 1-million are domestic workers. Generally, both industries do not pay well. Refer to 2023-09 – South Africa can’t crack the inequality curse. Why, and what can be done – Wits University.
The words that we use to describe a group of people can influence their circumstances. A case in point is the use of the terms “illegal aliens” and “undocumented people”. Also consider the difference in tonality between the words “migrants” and “refugees”. Policy implications for these groups of individuals varies depending on the empathy and dignity we show them.
Certainly, there is not much dignity to being referred to as a “low-skilled” or “unskilled” worker. These phrases are used extensively in economics, politics and the media, despite their negative connotations. Bear in mind that we are referring to people who prepare and serve our food; stock our shelves; and provide care to children and the elderly. They also keep our schools, hospitals and offices clean. It is difficult, but necessary work that is frequently undervalued and underpaid.
ABET improves the bottom line
ABET or AET improves the bottom-line performance of companies. Adult literacy training and adult numeracy training represent an investment into your employees. Because they feel valued, they are more loyal and, therefore, want to work for the company for a long time. This reduces staff turnover, which can be costly. Bear in mind the time that it can take to recruit, train and onboard new employees.
When employees feel valued and possess the skills that they need to do their jobs well, they are also more engaged. This, in turn, improves productivity and efficiency. In this way, ABET or AET has a positive impact on the overall performance and profitability of business.
Theodore Roosevelt once said that “no man needs sympathy because he has to work, because he has a burden to carry. Far and away, the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” We agree with the 26th President of the United States.
Learn more about Triple E Training and our quality ABET or AET that is providing South Africans with workplace literacy skills. This is so that they have the “chance to work hard at work worth doing”.
